Important Facts Regarding Intestate Estates In New York
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When a person dies without a Last Will he is said to have died intestate. In these cases, a person’s estate is distributed according to Estates, Powers and Trusts Law section 4-1.1 entitled “Descent and distribution of a decedent’s estate.
When a person dies without a Last Will and Testament, he is deemed to have died intestate. This means that the administration of the decedent’s estate is to be controlled by the New York laws of intestacy. The primary statutory authority for intestate estates is Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) Section 4-1.1 entitled “Descent and distribution of a decedent’s estate”. This statute provides the order of priority for the individuals entitled to inherit from the estate.
The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has published many articles regarding intestacy. Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA) Section 1001 entitled “Order of priority granting letters of administration”, sets forth the persons entitled to be appointed as the estate Administrator. Continue reading
Very often the Surrogate’s Court requires that an Executor or Administrator post a bond as a condition to their appointment as a fiduciary. A Bond in the Surrogate’s Court is typically within the discretion of the Judge. Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA) Section 710 entitled “Objections which require bond from fiduciary not otherwise required to file bond”, provides various directions as to the posting of a bond.
A bond is simply a form of insurance to protect the estate creditors and beneficiaries from possible estate loses. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has discussed fiduciary bonds in earlier posts. When a person prepares a Last Will, one common provision is that the need to post a bond by the Executor is waived. On the other hand, in many intestacy administration cases, the Court requires that the Administrator post a bond as a condition to his appointment. Continue reading
When a person dies without a Last Will he is deemed to have died intestate. In cases of intestacy there are numerous facts that must be considered in connection with the appointment of an estate administrator and the settlement of a decedent’s estate. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has published many articles regarding intestate estates.
At the outset, information regarding the decedent’s next of kin or kinship must be determined. The identity of the decedent’s kinship is needed in order to select the proper person to petition the Surrogate’s Court for Letters of Administration. Kinship will also provide the identity of the persons who are entitled to inherit the estate assets. Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) Section 4-1.1 entitled “Descent and distribution of a decedent’s estate” provides the list of priority for inheritance. The decedent’s spouse and children have first priority to inherit. Continue reading
When a person dies it is common to refer to matters dealing with the decedent as issues concerning his “estate”. However, it is important to learn exactly what is meant by a person’s estate”. Upon death, an individual typically owns various assets. These may include real estate, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, individual retirement accounts, life insurance and pension benefits. All of these items comprise a decedent’s “gross estate”. However, a distinction needs to be drawn between the “gross estate” and a decedent’s estate for purposes of administration.
The assets owned by someone who dies that are held in his own name are going to be controlled by a person’s Last Will. If there is no Last Will, these items will be distributed according to the laws of intestacy. In these cases, the Surrogate’s Court appoints either an Executor or an Administrator. Assets that are held jointly or with a named beneficiary may be part of a decedent’s gross estate but are not part of the administration estate. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has published many articles talking about the way various assets are transferred upon an individual’s death.
It is important to know that an Executor or Administrator is the only person authorized to deal with the affairs of the administration estate. The estate fiduciary has the power to collect assets, pay estate taxes and bills, sell estate property such as real estate and engage in estate litigation to resolve estate disputes. The estate beneficiaries do not have this authority unless they are the Court appointed fiduciary.
When a person dies there are many issues that can affect the settlement of his estate. Initially, it must be determined wither the decedent had executed a Last Will. If so, then a probate proceeding is to be filed in the Court. In the event the decedent died intestate (without a Last Will), then an Administration proceeding is filed.
Another primary issue that needs to be considered is whether the decedent was a domiciliary of New York. Domicile is defined in the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA) Section 103(15) as a person’s principal fixed and permanent home. Domicile is important because generally the New York Courts only have jurisdiction over the estates of a person domiciled in New York at the time of death. A person may have numerous residences but he can only have one domicile. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has discussed this issue in earlier posts. Continue reading
When a person dies without a Last Will, he is considered to have died intestate. The process to appoint a fiduciary for an intestate decedent is known as an Administration Proceeding. At the conclusion of this type of case the Surrogate’s Court will appoint an Administrator. This is in contrast to the situation when a person dies and leaves a Last Will and the Court appoints an Executor in the Probate proceeding. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has posted many articles about Probate and Administration.
Administration proceedings can have many complex issues. The persons who are entitled to be appointed as an Administrator are set forth in Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA) Section 1001. This statute provides a list of the priority for appointment as the estate fiduciary. Continue reading
Real Estate ownership by a decedent is commonplace. A person may have owned a family residence, or investment or commercial properties. Ownership interests may also appear in the form of cooperative and condominium units.
These types of assets constitute one of, if not the, most valuable estate asset. The administration and disposition of estate real estate is often the subject of controversies. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has posted many articles regarding issues concerning real estate. Continue reading
The preparation and execution of a Last Will is an important part of a person’s estate planning. A Will along with documents such as a Living Will, Health Care Proxy, Power of Attorney and Living Trust, can all be utilized to express a person’s desires and intentions regarding his property and personal affairs.
Many posts provided by the New York Probate Lawyer Blog discuss the need to expend the time and effort required to prepare and finalize a Will so that it fully provides for estate distribution. New York City Estate Administration attorneys assist clients in reviewing their assets and developing plans that most effectively reflect the client’s wishes. Continue reading
The fundamental goal of estate settlement is to collect the decedent’s assets, pay all claims and administration expenses and distribute the net estate to beneficiaries. New York estate administration attorneys help their clients accomplish these tasks. Both executors and administrators have fiduciary duties to see to it that the decedent’s affairs are properly handled.
It is not always an easy task to determine the nature of the decedent’s assets. In some cases the decedent’s records may be incomplete or unclear as to asset ownership. Other times, problems may arise due to pre-death transfers of assets or third parties trying to hide the decedent’s ownership for their own benefit. Assets may have been transferred before death to another person by the use of a power of attorney or due to undue influence. Proper estate administration requires that the estate’s interest in these items be thoroughly investigated and Court proceedings be commenced to have third parties turn over estate assets. Continue reading
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